The Year We Thought About Love

February 2, 2016 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Note: There is a misprint on advance tickets that erroneously indicates a 3pm start time for this program. It is in fact at 7pm.

This youth focused program features works made for a youth audience. It is co-sponsored by HARS, FUSE LGBTQ Youth Group, SAY OutLoud LGBT Youth Group & Down There (ASUS)

THE YEAR WE THOUGHT ABOUT LOVE with Sex Ed shorts by SAY OutLoud Belleville LGBTQ Youth Group

What happens when a diverse group of LGBTQ youth dares to be “out” on stage to reveal their lives and their loves?

THE YEAR WE THOUGHT ABOUT LOVE goes behind the scenes of one of the oldest queer youth theaters in America, with our camera crew slipping into classrooms, kitchens, subways, and rehearsal rooms with this fearless and endearing troupe. Boston-based True Colors OUT Youth Theater transforms daily struggles into performance for social change. With wit, candor, and attitude, our cast of characters captivates audiences surprised to hear such stories in school settings. Our film introduces a transgender teenager kicked out of her house, a devout Christian challenging his church’s homophobia, and a girl who prefers to wear boys’ clothing even as she models dresses on the runway. When bombs explode outside their building, the troupe becomes even more determined to share their stories of love to help heal their city. This year is the first year they dare to talk about love. Brave, inspiring, and funny…these are the inspiring LGBT youth that are leading us into the future.

Documentary. 2014. USA. 68min. Directed by Ellen Brodsky

Preceded by: The LGBTQ Youth Digital Media Arts Project*

These are short digital works on the topic of sex education created by 12 youth (aged 13-25) from the SAY OutLoud LGBTQ Youth group in Belleville.

*The LGBTQ Youth Digital Media Arts Project

What was your experience with sexual health education in school? What should sex ed. include? What’s missing? How did this class affect you? These were the questions we asked twelve youth (aged 13-25) to answer using digital media. The LGBTQ Digital Media Arts Project was developed in response to a conversation at the SAY OutLoud youth group where LGBTQ youth and allies told stories about their feelings of alienation and discrimination during typical sex education classes. The youth attended this 3-day media arts workshop where they shared their experiences, looked at the new Physical and Health Education curriculum and made video art using iPads. Some youth chose to work together in small teams helping each other record video or interviewing their peers. Others worked alone crafting drawings and writing texts. Some youth spoke back directly, addressing shortcomings in their education about sexuality, while others artfully described their experiences of being gay or trans in school. These videos provide a window into the thoughtful minds of young people and demonstrate their capacity to have meaningful conversations about sexuality and school.

The LGBTQ Youth Digital Media Arts Project received financial support from the Ontario Arts Council, SAY OutLoud, the Executive of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario – Hastings-Prince Edward Local‎ and teachers on the Equity Committee.